Madras High court today directed the Government, NGOs and MDMK leader Vaiko to give their suggestions and recommendations for eradicating in the eradication of the 'Karuvelam' trees (Prosopis-Juliflora) which caused widespread damage to ecological system.
When the counsel for the Government submitted that the Principal Secretary of Environment and Forests had convened a meeting tomorrow to discuss the steps to eradicate them, Justices R Sudhakar and V M Velumani, while hearing a PIL by Vaiko seeking steps to eradicate the shrubs, said the government was acting in the right direction.
Vaiko submitted that the Government had taken some steps in this regard and welcomed it. He also suggested that the public in his village of Kalingapatti be allowed to remove the Karuvelam trees on voluntary basis. However the Judges said that such directions could not be given.
Meanwhile, S M Ananthamurugam, an advocate who filed an Impleading Petition submitted that the court should direct the District Collectors to remove the trees within a stipulated time through BDO, Panchayat heads using National Rural employment Guarantee scheme.
He said If the private land owners did not remove the trees in their plots,then the Government should direct the local bodies to remove them and recover the cost from the land owners.
The bench posted the case to october 28 for next hearing.
Meanwhile, Vaiko told reporters outside the Court that the Centre had sanctioned Rs 4,500 crore for Tamil Nadu government for various irrgation schemes and protecting water sources.
The government had utilised only Rs 2500 crore and the balance amount could be used to remove the Karuvelam trees. and raise good trees to protect the environment, he said.
